Lady s elastic girdle



Aug. 18, 1959 A.-E. BE RIE 2,899,964

L'ADY's ELASTIC GIRDLE Filed May 31, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TV.

Aug. 18, 1959 v A. E. BEURIE 2,899,964

LADY'S ELASTIC GIRDLE' Filed May 31, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 //v l/k/vrae ANDRE" fpMo/vp 55005 By flm a Aug. 18, 1959 A. E. BEURIE 2,899,964

LADY S ELASTIC GIRDLE Filed May 31, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 PI? 70 Z3 //VVENTO E 417095 DMOND BEue/E 8y 9% A? HTT United States Patent C LADYS ELASTIC GIRDLE Andr Edmond Benri, Paris, France Application May 31, 1957, Serial No. 662,699

Claims priority, application France June- 12, 1956 3 Claims. (Cl. 128-448) In order that a ladys elastic girdle may have the required qualities, it must support and compress the abdomen so as to slim the figure, without however applying troublesome pressure to the wearer and without forming rolls of flesh at the edges. The conditions are sometimes difficult to reconcile.

To this end, it has been proposed to form thegirdle by means of multiple elements having separate functions and which complete each other and correct each other when this is necessary. Thus, it has been proposed to associate the elastic portion proper of the girdle, which gives a general supporting effect without excessive compression, with an accessory element having a different compressive action which has the function of ensuring the support of the abdomen.

It has already been suggested, with the object, to combine with the elastic girdle proper a non-elastic or partlyelastic waist-band, attached to the girdle and being superimposed thereon. This waist-band compresses the abdomen independently of the elastic portion, while it gives a suitable ease to the wearer.

In accordance with a further embodiment, the supporting effect for the abdomen has been obtained by forming the elastic girdle by elastic portions having different strengths or degrees of elasticity.

In particular, it has been proposed to double the elastic portion of the girdle locally with a strip of elastic fabric having a curvilinear lower edge, the height of which increases from the back towards the front portion, this being usually formed by a front of non-elastic fabric. This reinforcing strip may beconstituted by a number of elements of the same or different nature, joined to each other and all rigidly fixed to the elastic portion of the girdle by seams.

If this solution corresponds to the object desired, which is to ensure the support of the abdomen by a compressive effect distinct from that of the girdle proper, it is however not free from a number of drawbacks.

These drawbacks result especially from the varying height of the reinforcing member fixed to the elastic portion of the girdle. By reason of the shape of the 'rein forcing member of elastic fabric, the latter is made with a bias cutting, which results in an unequal section of the elastic threads forming the warp of the fabric. The effect of this is that, in order to be operative, the reinforcement in which the elastic threads are cut at unequal lengths must necessarily be fixed to the guide by a seam over its entire periphery.

With this arrangement, in the direction in which the elasticity is'active, the girdle has portions which are doubled by the reinforcing member and non-doubled portions. When a tensionis applied, the non-doubled portion stretches more than the doubled portion. For this reason, not only is the extension of the girdle distributed unequally, beingtherefore irregular, but further it happens rather paradoxically that it is the non-doubled and weaker portion which works most and has to withstand the maximum stresses, this having the consequence of ice producing a more rapid wear of the non-doubled fabric.

In the application of this solution, attempts have in-' deed been made to reducethe effects of the irregularities of tension, by modifying the curvature and the dimensions of the reinforcing member, and even to vary its position with respect to the upper edge of the girdle. These expedient-s do not however remove the fundamental drawback due to the varying height of the reinforcement member, and the hesitant attempts to which they have given' rise to suflicient to show their lack of effectiveness.

The present invention has for its object improvements intended to provide a remedy for the above drawbacks.

These improvements consist in that the elastic rein fo'rcement associated with the elastic portion of the girdle in the abdominal region is constituted by a band of elastic fabric of substantially constant height to the elastic portion of the girdle by a single line of scam, and remaining free over the whole extent of its surface. The fixation 'to the girdle is preferably carried out along the upper edge of the reinforcing piece, but it may be fixed on a different line which may or may not be parallel to the upper edge of the said piece. This fixtation is effected by means of a continuous or non-continuous seam.

The reinforcing band of substantially constant height may be constituted by one or a number of pieces of fabric, all of which may be entirely elastic or alternatively some may be elastic and others of rigid fabric. It may be made from the same elastic fabric as the girdle proper or from fabric of a different nature or different elasticity.

The cutting out of this reinforcing band may take the form of a band with straight or curved edges, or alternatively or a straight edge associated with a curved edge. The said band may be formed by a single piece or by a number of pieces. In all cases however, the fabric which constitutes the piece or pieces forming the reinforcing band is cut and/or arranged on the straight over the major part of its surface. The elastic threadsof the fabric are entirely or almost entirely continuous over the whole length of the reinforcing band. For this reason, there is no longer any need for the latter to be sewn to the elastic portion of the girdle. It is simply attached, in particular by a line of scam along its upper edge, 'remaining independent of the elastic portion which forms the girdle.

It will be clear that during wear, the reinforcing piece can stretch freely and uniformly, independently of the elastic portion of the girdle. It is not interferred with by the girdle in its function as a support, and it does not limit the free extension of the elastic portion of the girdle either in height or in.width.

The result is that each of the parts of the girdle, the elastic portion proper and the reinforcing piece, adequately plays its part, the portions combining their effects of support and of absorption of all rolls of flesh.

To the reinforcing piece thus constituted for supporting the abdomen, there may be added if so desired, a similar reinforcing member to support the stomach, this member having a substantially constant height and being also fixed by a single line of scam, remaining free over the extent of its surface. The reinforcing member for the stomach portion is preferably attached to the girdle along its lower edge. e

This member may be separate from the abdominal support piece and may be attached to the elastic portion ofthe girdle along a single line of scam or along two different lines. It may also. be formed by a single piece together with the abdominal reinforcement member and fixed to the elastic portion of the girdle by the 'same'single means of attachment. v I

The accompanying drawings Show by way of example, forms of embodiment of "the girdle 'inaccordance with the present invention:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the girdle.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same girdle.

Fig. 3 shows the girdle turned inside out.

Fig. 4 shows the cutting-out of the reinforcing piece.

Fig. 5 is an alternative form of cutting-out 'of the reinforcing piece.

Fig. 6 relates to a further method of assembly.

Figs. 7 and 8 are explanatory diagrams.

Figs. 9 and 10 relate to further methods of cutting-out the reinforcing piece.

Fig. 11 shows a different form of construction of the girdle, turned inside out.

Fig. 12 relates to the cutting-out of the reinforcing piece of the girdle shown in Fig. 11.

The girdle is made up in the usual way of a portion of elastic fabric 10, suitably cut-out and assembled by joining to a front piece 11 of stifi fabric.

To the girdle formed in this way, is connected a reinforcing piece 12. This piece 12 is formed by a band of fabric of constant height. This band 12 is either entirely of elastic fabric or it may be mixed, that is to say composed of assembled portions, some of which are of elastic fabric and the others of stiff fabric. It is fixed to the elastic portion 10 of the girdle over the whole or part of its periphery, along its upper edge, by means. of a line of seam 13. The latter is located towards the back substantially at the height of the waist-line 14. Towards the front, it may follow the Waist-line 14 or it may be oblique with reference to the said waist-line. The lower edge of the piece 12 is free and not sewn. The two extremities 16 and 17 are fixed to the front piece 11.

The constant height of the piece 13 may of course vary as desired, depending on the nature and the use of the girdle, and the degree of support to be obtained. With the same object, the line of fixation 13 of the reinforcing piece 12 may be located above or below the waist-line 14 instead of being provided at the level of the waist-line.

In its most simple form, the reinforcing band 12 is cutout as shown in Fig. 4. It has the form of a rectilinear band, in which the elastic threads of the fabric, shown diagrammatically at '18, are parallel to the edges 13 and 15. For the purposes of assembly, the extremities 16 and 17 are oblique, so that the whole of the strip takes the form of a trapezium.

Instead of being formed of a single piece, the band 12 may be made up of a number of pieces suitably joined together. For the purposes of shaping the girdle, these multiple pieces may be curved at their concave or convex lines of assembly. Instead of a rectilinear band, the reinforcing piece 12 may be formed by an annular band (see Fig. 5), the two edges 13 and 15 being spaced apart by a constant distance. In this case, the reinforcing member is made up of multiple rectangular or trapezoidal elements joined to each other; each element is cut on the straight, the elastic threads being parallel to the edges of the band.

Instead of being sewn at 16 and 17 to the edge of the front piece 11, the extremities of the reinforcing piece 12 may be brought together on the front of the girdle and joined to each other. They may also be joined to the girdle by a seam or by a vertical fastening, hooks and eyes or any other arrangement. 7

It is also possible to associate the reinforcing band 12 only with the back portion of the girdle, the extremities 16 and 17 being fixed to lateral elastic pieces 19 on the front of the girdle, extending on each side of the front piece 11, preferably doubled over the whole or part of their height (Fig. 6).

The advantages of the arrangement in accordance with the invention are clearly brought out in the diagrams given in Figs. 7 and 8.

Fig. 7 shows the girdle 10 and the reinforcing piece developed on one plane, whilst Fig. 8 shows them after 4 assembly, the girdle being assumed to be turned inside out, as in the case of Fig. 3.

It is known that the girdle proper 10, in order to follow the shape of the body, should have substantially the form of a frustum of a cone below the waist. When the reinforcing piece 12 in the form of a straight band is associated with this frustum of a cone, the points of attachment of the reinforcing piece on the front of the girdle are necessarily located at a lower level than the attachment at the back. The reinforcing piece 12 thus has a downward slope from the back towards the front, the elastic threads being disposed obliquely on the front with an orientation with respect to the waist-line 14. The supporting pressure for the abdomen thus has a favorable rising direction.

The result of this arrangement is that the lower edge 15 of the reinforcing piece 12 has a length which is necessarily greater than the upper edge 13 which is at tached to the girdle 10. In accordance with one of the special features of the invention, the length of the lower edge 15 is made greater than would be required for a purely geometric superposition of the straight portion 12 on the frusto-conical portion 10, which results in the formation of a divergent angle 3 of the reinforcing piece 12 with respect to the girdle 10. This divergence causes the pressure of the reinforcing piece 12 to diminish from the top to the bottom.

It can be seen that, if the obliquity a of the piece 12 with respect to the waist-line 14 is varied on the front of the girdle, there is obtained a corresponding variation of the divergence )3 of the reinforcing piece 12 with respect to the elastic portion 10 of the girdle. In order to determine suitably the obliquity a, the degree of progressive divergence of the reinforcing piece and its gripping and pressure effect can be varied at will, so as to be smaller as the obliquity or becomes greater.

With this arrangement, which forms one of the features of the invention, there is obtained an adjustable and progressive reduction of the pressure of the reinforcing piece from the top to the bottom, which has the result of eliminating any ugly formation of rolls of flesh along the lower edge 15 of the reinforcing piece 12.

If it is desired to compensate for the obliquity of the extremities of the reinforcing piece in the vicinity of the front piece 11, and to maintain the reinforcing piece along the waist-line both at the front and at the rear, the reinforcing piece can be cut-out in the manner shown in Fig. 9. In this latter figure, the extremities of the edge 13 are incurved at 20 and 21.

It is to be noted that, in accordance with this arrangement, the upper edge 132021 of the reinforcing piece is concave, whilst the lower edge 15 remains a straight line. This method of cutting-out is exactly the reverse of that proposed in the former patents referred to, in which it is the lower edge which is concave, whilst the upper edge remains in a straight line. This difference is a special feature of the present invention.

Instead of being curved, the upper edge of the reinforcing piece may have the form of a broken line, as shown in Fig. 10. The increase in height at the extremities is obtained by a straight oblique cut at 22 and 23.

The end portions comprising the curved or straight cut-out portions 2021 or 22-23 may be cut-out directly from the piece of fabric which forms the reinforcing band 12. They then comprise a cut-out portion which is partly on the bias. But this does not interrupt the elastic threads, except over a portion which does not serve to support the abdomen, their continuity remains complete below the waist, so that there is no practical drawback in this arrangement. Further, suitable arrangements are made to correct the effect of the bias cut of the wider portions. The latter may also be formed for example by separate pieces cut on the straight and suitably fixed to the band 12 of constant height, following lines such as 24 and 25. When the reinforcing piece 12 is provided so as to comprise a portion coming above the waist-line 14, this piece may comprise notches 26 and 27 (see Figs. 11 and 12).

The reinforcing piece then has an upper band 28 comprising two extremities 29 and 30 separate from the main piece 12. The assembly of the two reinforcing pieces 12 and 29 is attached to the girdle by a common seam sewn on the back portion. This line 31 separates towards the front into two parts, one of which 32 slopes obliquely down towards the front piece 11, While the other 33 is substantially horizontal. 7

By this arrangement, the reinforcing piece is made up of two bands 13 and 28, the band 28 associated with the band 13 being attached, like the latter, to the girdle along one of its edges, and remaining free over its entire surface. While the band 13 serves to support the abdomen, the band 28 serves as a support for the stomach portion. The assembly of the two bands has the form of two opposite sections of cones joined together by their line of intersection.

In accordance with this arrangement, these two reinforcements, for the abdomen and stomach portions, are made in a single piece in accordance with the cutting-out method shown in Fig. 12. It will be understood that the two reinforcing pieces 28 and 13 may be separate and assembled at the same time by separate seams, above, level with, or below the waist.

In addition, if this is necessary, the piece 13 can be provided with vertical whalebone supports. This whalebonding is independent of the elastic portion 10, which retains all its elasticity in height.

What I claim is:

1. A ladys elastic girdle, comprising a front panel of non-elastic material, an elastic section forming the rear and the sides of the girdle, and a reinforcing belt formed of a strip of trapezoidal shape and substantially constant 6 height cut on the straight, the lateral ends of which are attached to the outer edges of the front panel and the upper edge of which is attached to the inner surface of the elastic section of the girdle at least to the rear thereof, in an area registering with the Wearers waist, the lower edge of said strip remaining free and spaced away from the elastic section of the girdle.

2. A ladys elastic girdle comprising a front portion of a rigid non-elastic fabric and an elastic portion forming the rear and the sides, areinforcing band constituted by a band of fabric composed of trapezoidal elements cut on the straight and assembled together, the extremities of the said band being attached to the side edges of the front portion and the upper edge being attached to the elastic portion of the girdle, at least at the rear at the height of the waist, the lower edge of the said band remaining free and separated from the girdle.

3. A ladys elastic girdle comprising a front portion of a rigid non-elastic fabric and an elastic portion constituting the rear and the sides, a reinforcing band composed of a trapezoidal element of fabric cut on the straight, the said element being partially cut out at its extremities soas to form two joined bands which are mounted on the girdle with their extremities separated and fixed to the front portion, the upper edge of the lower band being attached to the elastic portion of the girdle, the lower edge of the upper band being attached to the elastic portion of the girdle, the other edges of the two bands remaining free and separated from the girdle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,507,593 Glosios May 16, 1950 2,680,848 Hannes et al June 15, 1954 2,720,653 Fowler et al. Oct. 18, 1955 2,754,517 Poirier July 17, 1956 

